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Monday, May 18, 2009

Tarte Citron Yellow

After studying at length Le Figaro's best tarte au citron survey, I thought I better get out there and follow up. Who knew Fauchon's squared tarte would come in at #11?

I've hit on some of their best 10 in the past and a few I just didn't get to. Please forgive!

Numero uno at Carl Morletti was a surprise winner and I'd never visited this small patisserie before, exactly 1 block from the Metro Censier Daubenton (#7) in the 5th arrondissement...

Pristine and beautiful, this domed mountain of creamy lemon curd was the perfect balance of sweet and tart. A "domed" tarte evidently is far more difficult to achieve than a flattened tarte au citron.

I did finish this tarte - I just wanted to give you a look inside. Marletti has a little outdoor cafe where you can sit at leisure and enjoy his luxe pastries. BRAVO Carl!

Next I traipsed up to much touted chocolatier and perfectionniste, Jacques Génin in the haut Marais. This place is really haut at the exact end of the very long rue de Turrene. The interior is like a laboratoire and fairly empty. I wouldn't have dared to bring out my camera (2 kilos of caramels here are 110 euros). Since no one was much interested in helping me, I took a pass on #2 winner of Le Figaro's best tarte survey . Ca m'enerve

#3 Figaro winner has always been my #1, Pierre Herme. I never mind tasting this tarte over and over for recherche. There are chunks of actual lemon in this unctuous tarte, as well as lemon peel confit, so you never lack for intense lemony flavor. This is more like an immersion.

Yesterday I hit on Patisserie Carette at #5 and again the balance was fine. You will never, well almost never taste an excess of sugar in a French lemon tarte, unlike the home experience, here the lemon is top dog.

When Parisienne Michele mentioned to me that this tarte citron yellow was the HOT color for summer

I began to see it everwhere

Even rippled yellow tarte citron - it seems very appropriate to wear when your out testing Le Figero's winners

Plus you can accessorize with a citron yellow Moleskine notebook.

For your recherche notes. And yellow ink!

Parisienne Anne was saying last night as we sat in a brasserie by the window, "What's with all the little dogs in your posts and drawings?

What a feast for the eyes (poor me, sitting here with nothing but a cappuccino)!

May I just make one observation:Maybe its just me, having lived south of the Mason-Dixon line just a tad too long, but I beg to differ on the color of the "citron" Moleskine notebooks. To my eyes they are "Key lime" colored, which of course is sheer torture to a Key Lime Pie afficionada like myself! I was standing in front of a stack of these notebooks only a few days ago, very tempted to buy one. Then I realised I would not be able to cope with the constant reminder of what I cannot have here in Vienna: a decent Key Lime Pie!

It is official (until your next color theme) -- Spring green and citron yellow are my favorite colors forever. Also, you have taught me something very important... On my first trip to Paris, I must follow your directions to Pierre Herme and then to Carl Marletti (#1 in presentation alone... your photo of this "pristine and beautiful" tarte is delightful).Delicious BreakfastMerci Beaucoup!David

Atta girl! This is the spirit for which you deserve France's highest award: dogged determined pursuit of knowledge on behalf of millions of PB readers who will never come closer to les French Tartes au citron than in this blog. On you march, tirelessly pursuing your tartes - well, except for that one snooty place...Someone MUST search out and verify the ratings...MORE RESEARCH I say! MORE!

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♥carol gillott♥

l'Ile Saint Louis, Paris, Ile de France, France

Hi I'm Carol Gillott,
My Mom taught me watercolors at 5 and I'm still at it. Now I live by the Seine on l'Ile Saint-Louis. Do consider subscribing to my Paris letters and maps on Etsy and enjoy a taste of Paris in your mailbox every month to savor with a hot chocolate and croissant. I paint Paris dreams.